Barcode Cards Printing, Comparison Chart
You can also download here a barcode test sheet and scan it with your barcode scanner. Once you have determined the barcode type you need, you will be ready to order your barcode gift cards or barcode key tags.
Q: What is the minimum font size for a barcode? Barcode cards can be used to load value onto gift cards, by encoding data on it that your POS (point of sale) can read. |
| Barcode Type | # of Characters | Mostly Used For: | May Consist of: |
|
Type 39
|
39 barcode can be of unlimited length. Minimum of 4 characters required. Some sources say 43 characters should be max, to allow optimal scanning. |
Mostly used for "Variable Data", so each card is printed and scanned with its own unique number. |
|
| Type 128
|
Unlimited | Commonly used
in the shipping & packaging industry, by companies such as Amazon. Human readable numbers on 128 barcodes can be printed above, below, right or left of the barcode. However, it's most common to print it below the barcode. |
|
| Interleaved 2 of 5 (Code 25, ITF, I25)
|
Min. Characters: 2 digits Even number of digits required. If you don't have a even number, a leading 0 (zero) will be added in front. If a checksum is needed, Then odd number is required so it will even out with the final checksum. |
Commonly used in the shipping & packaging industry. | Numbers only |
| Codabar (USD-4, NW-7, Code 2 of 7, Ames and Monarch code)
|
Max strings: up to 16 digits Optionally, there are also 4 start/stop code choices possible when using the Codabar symbology. These characters (A, B, C, or D) must be included at the beginning or ending of a string (we normally see A &/or B). We can assign a Luhn Mod 10 check digit to 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15-digit numbers if needed. |
Codabar barcodes are Commonly used by logistics and healthcare professionals, including U.S. blood banks, FedEx, photo labs and libraries. |
|
| UPC-A
|
11 digits + 1 checksum digit. Customer should supply 11 digits and the 12'th check digit is auto generated. |
Retail
products in USA & Canada This barcode identifies the manufacturer of a product which allows people and businesses to look up the price. This barcode is very helpful for retailers. It can be used for returns or to check the price of an item that hasn't been marked in the store. UPC-A barcode consists of 12 numbers. The first number indicates which numbering system is being used, the next 5 indicate the manufacturer of the product, the 5 after that indicate the type of product, and the last number is a Modulo 10 checksum. |
Numbers only |
| UPC-E
|
7 digits
+ 1 checksum digit. Customer should supply 7 digits and the 8'th check digit is auto generated. |
Retail
products in USA and Canada. Ideal UPC code for products with limited label space. |
Numbers only |
| EAN-13
|
12 digits
+ 1 checksum digit. Customer should supply 12 digits and the 13'th check digit is auto generated. |
Worldwide
retail goods that are shipping from country to country. EAN-13 barcodes consists of a 2 or 3 number code that indicates what country the product is from, 4 of 5 data digits, and a checksum digit. |
Numbers only |
| EAN-8
|
7 digits
+ 1 checksum digit. Customer should supply 7 digits and the 8'th check digit is auto generated. |
The EAN-8 barcode includes 4 to 5 numbers that are considered data digits, a 2 or 3-digit country code, and a checksum number. EAN-8 barcode is primarily used when trying to use the least amount of space possible on the package. The barcode is only issued when another barcode takes up too much space. | Numbers only |
| QR Code
|
Numeric only, max characters:
7,089 Alphanumeric max characters: 4,296 Binary/byte max characters: 2,953 Kanji/kana max characters: 1,817 |
A QR code is a fairly recent phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular on custom plastic card printing. Basically, you scan it using a smartphone or other electronic device and it initiates an action. For example, scanning a QR code may open any website URL or download an app to your phone. These codes can easily be generated for free online. | All ASCII characters |
| PDF417
|
Alphanumeric max: 1850 Numeric characters max: 2725 |
PDF417 barcodes are used to print postage accepted by USPS. It's also commonly used by major airlines for boarding passes. PDF417 is also used by the Department of Homeland Security for RealID, driver licenses and state issued ID cards. FedEx also uses it on their package labels. | All ASCII characters |
| Data Matrix
|
Alphanumeric max: 2335 Numeric characters max: 3116 |
DataMatrix is used to encode product and serial number information on electrical rating plates; to mark of surgical instruments; to identify lenses, circuit boards, and other items during manufacturing. | All ASCII characters |
|
Products
RESOURCES
